RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Dn. 89: Winwood Reade 5/11/72 and 5/9/72. CUL-DAR53.2.77. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2025. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR53.2 contains drafts, notes & clippings for Darwin's book The expression of the emotions (1872) and notes to correct a further edition.
77
Dn. 89:
Winwood Reade 5/11/72
1) Cats raising forepaw like a pointer
2) A irregular fat fond of paddling in water
3) Has known a man gnash his teeth when excited sexually.
4) Negroes shrugging shoulders
5) kissing unknown in West Africa
5/9/72
Has seen a "pack-ass shed a tear on the bit being placed in its mouth for the first time"
Note by C.D. referring to p. 164 on back of this letter
See letter from W. W. Reade 5 November 1872. Correspondence vol. 20, p. 482. Cited in Expression 2d ed., p. 226n "[Mr. Winwood Reade (letter, Nov. 5, 1872) says that kissing is unknown throughout West Africa, "which is probably the largest non-kissing region on the globe."]" and p. 282 "[Mr. Winwood Reade has also seen this gesture in negroes (letter, Nov. 5, 1872).]". The second letter is mis-dated here as 5 September but was in fact 7 September 1872. See Correspondence vol. 20, p. 397.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 September, 2025